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living room. “Do you think we should have a talk with them?”
    â€œSeems a little weird to scold them.”
    â€œI know what you mean. There’s something uncomfortable about correcting sweet old ladies. Besides, they’re not dumb. They know better than to do that.” I placed my hand on the doorknob. “On the other hand, we
have
done our fair share of tailing people.”
    â€œThat was
totally
different. We were trying to uncover murderers. Like the time we waited in a parking garage to follow Natasha.”
    â€œDo you remember how boring that was? Nothing happened for the longest time. We ate our way though all the snacks we brought with us. I thought she would never appear.”
    â€œI guess they’re not hurting anyone. But they sure are nosy!”
    We let ourselves out, and I pulled the door shut. “One of these days that will be us spying on the neighbors because we have nothing else to do.”

    Darkness was settling on Old Town much earlier, marking the end of summer. My evening strolls with Daisy were now by streetlight. A change in the atmosphere had taken place, too. Business suits had replaced sundresses and shorts, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere, even at nine o’clock at night.
    Daisy pounced on leaves as they skittered along the sidewalk. I was busy admiring the colonial houses dressed up for fall with wreaths and pumpkins. We slowed at Robert Johnson Antiques so I could admire the items in the showwindow. Robert had an eye for quality. A sparkling chandelier hung over a Hepplewhite-style sideboard. A painting of a cottage, probably in England, was propped up on an easel next to it. A collection of tempting blue and white dishes, teacups, and vases graced the top of the sideboard. No wonder Natasha couldn’t resist buying at Robert’s store.
    Across the street, the windows at The Parlour were dim as though Martha had left a small light or two on when they closed for the day. A motion caught my eye. Nothing more than a shadow, really. My radar of suspicion rose. Dodging traffic, Daisy and I crossed the street. Trying not to be too obvious, I looked in a window. Someone was definitely inside.
    â€œSpying?”
    I jumped and whipped around. “Mars! You scared me.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    â€œI thought I saw someone inside The Parlour.”
    â€œOh no!” He clapped his hands to the sides of his face like the kid in
Home Alone
. “Imagine someone being inside. It could be the cleaning crew, or a baker, or the owner!”
    I pretended to slug his arm.
    Mars laughed at me and knelt to pat Daisy. “Where are my two girls off to?”
    â€œJust taking our evening walk.”
    â€œMind if I come along?”
    â€œWe would be honored, kind sir.”
    We ambled for a few minutes without speaking, passing historic houses, their windows aglow in the night.
    â€œIt’s nice to just stroll in Old Town,” Mars said. “Lately it seems like I’ve always been on the run.”
    â€œHave you settled into Bernie’s okay?”
    â€œThat house is huge. It’s really a mansion, Sophie. I think we could go for days without seeing or hearing each other.”
    â€œNo regrets yet?”
    â€œAbout Natasha? I wouldn’t confess this to just anyone, but I had forgotten how peaceful life can be when someone isn’t pitching a fuss or having a crisis every single minute. Last night I left my shoes in Bernie’s den when I went to bed.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œIt was like a miracle. They were still there in the morning. Natasha would have hidden them to clean up and teach me a lesson.”
    â€œCome on, Mars. She can’t be
that
bad.”
    â€œMaybe I’m too much of a slob for someone like her.”
    We turned a corner and a woman flew toward us. Mars shielded me with his arm.

CHAPTER NINE
    Dear Sophie,
    I can finally afford to buy some really fine china